From lapses in US election dry run to Asian retailers bouncing back, here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now.
Asymptomatic but not infectious
After testing 9.9 million of 11 million people in a vast
testing campaign that began on May 14, the Chinese city of
Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak began, has found no new
cases of people suffering from the disease and 300 asymptomatic
carriers of the virus.
China does not count people who are infected with the virus
but do not show symptoms of the disease as confirmed cases.
Officials told reporters that the asymptomatic carriers had
been found not to be infectious; masks, toothbrushes, phones,
door handles and elevator buttons that they touched had no
traces of the virus.
Lapses in US election dry run
Confusion, missing mail-in ballots and long lines at some
polling centres marred primary elections on Tuesday in eight
U.S. states and the District of Columbia, the biggest test yet
of voting during the coronavirus outbreak.
Serving as a dry run for the November 3 general election, the
exercise offered a glimpse of the challenges ahead on a national
scale if that vote is conducted under a lingering threat from
Covid-19.
Faster bounce-back seen for Asian retailers
While no major fashion firms have been spared, Japan's Fast
Retailing, owner of the Uniqlo brand reputed for its long
shelf-life and value-for-money items, looks well-placed to cope
with the coronavirus crisis better than rivals.
One reason could be Fast Retailing's greater Asia presence.
Asia accounts for three-quarters of Uniqlo's annual revenue and
Fast Retailing has expanded aggressively in China with 750
Uniqlo stores.
"Asia is going to be much faster to bounce back in terms of
willingness to spend, which will favour operators with a big
presence in Asia," said Honor Strachan, retail analyst at
research firm GlobalData.
NBA eyes mid-Oct season finish
The National Basketball Association has targeted Oct. 12 as
the last possible date to complete the 2019-20 season, which has
been on hold since mid-March because of the coronavirus
pandemic, ESPN reported on Tuesday. The NBA finals typically
conclude around mid-June.
Both the NBA and players association were still discussing
details on a return-to-play format, said the report, which cited
unnamed sources.
Expect more injuries in EPL
Newcastle United club doctor Paul Catterson says he expects
players to suffer more injuries than usual when the Premier
League resumes on June 17 following the coronavirus disruption.
"The players have been running on treadmills and working
indoors for eight weeks so that transition is a different
stimulus for the body," Catterson told the BBC. The league was
suspended on March 13 due to the pandemic.
Surviving in the bush
A bushcraft course that teaches basic survival skills and
offers insight into traditional indigenous cultures is proving
popular as city folk turn to nature with the easing of
Australia's coronavirus lockdown.
Course participants learn solar and celestial navigation,
how to erect a shelter, build a fire and forage for edible
plants, sometimes within a timed environment designed to emulate
the pressure of a real survival situation.
At least one participant found it was good to get away from
the stress of supermarket runs.
"I'm feeling like I'm detoxing a little from that sphere of
the world," said George Hamza.